Summaries of health policy coverage from major news organizations

A selection of opinions on health care developments from around the state.

Los Angeles Times:
California Should Fight The Good Fight Against Bad Health Insurance Policies
This one should be a no-brainer: California lawmakers are considering a bill that would ban so-called junk health insurance policies — short-term plans that do not comply with the consumer protections set out in Obamacare. These cheap plans typically offer no protection against the risk of bankrupting medical bills; instead, they cover just a limited number of doctor visits and days in the hospital, with glaring gaps in coverage, huge out-of-pocket costs and comparatively low caps on total benefits. Yet this is precisely the sort of policy that the Trump administration and some congressional Republicans have been promoting as a way to lower health insurance premiums. That's all the more reason for the Legislature to approve the bill imposing a ban, SB 910 by Sen. Ed Hernandez (D-Azusa). (5/25)

San Diego Union-Tribune:
Free Health Care For Unauthorized Immigrants In California? It's Being Considered
Amid escalating tension — and even legal battles — between California and the Trump administration over immigration, an effort is underway to expand health care coverage for unauthorized immigrants in the state. Just last week, President Donald Trump met with state and local leaders from California at the White House, including Escondido Mayor Sam Abed and county supervisor Kristin Gaspard, to applaud them for taking stands to oppose state immigration policies his administration finds unconsitutional. Meanwhile, Politico is describing this health care effort from Democrats in Sacramento as “one of the most daring examples yet of blue-state Democrats thumbing their nose at Trump.” (Abby Hamblin, 5/21)

Sacramento Bee:
Keep State's Drug Discount Program
The Brown administration argues that more money could be brought to the state general fund if 340B were eliminated. ... If Brown’s proposal is approved by the Legislature, it would reduce our workforce and eliminate necessary supportive services. (Britta Guerrero, 5/22)

Sacramento Bee:
Restore California's End Of Life Option Act
A California Superior Court judge’s decision to strike down California’s “End of Life Option Act” is wrong as a matter of law. ...he California Court of Appeal should overturn this decision and failing that, the Legislature should quickly reenact it in a manner that addresses the judge’s concerns. (Erwin Chemerinsky, 5/21)

The Mercury News:
What Bay Area Can Do To Solve Its Housing Crisis
San Jose City Councilman Chappie Jones’ regular email newsletter to constituents led with the headline “Housing Crisis Hits District 1’s Very Own.” Following was a personal letter from his legislative and policy director, Christina Pressman, that described why she had made the decision to leave her job and move her family more than 1,200 miles away to Denver. The short answer? Rising rents and housing costs.Unfortunately, this story is far from unique. The lack of affordable housing is displacing residents who call the South Bay home — residents who grew up here, raised their families here, formed community. It’s no longer just those on fixed incomes or who work low wage jobs who are impacted. The housing crisis has made it hard for middle-income families and even families earning six figures to find a decent and affordable place to live. (Leslye Corsiglia and Kevin Zwick, 5/22)

Sacramento Bee:
California Could Afford To Lead On Alzheimer's Research
According to current projections, AD will overwhelm the national healthcare system by 2050, affecting 16 million Americans and costing Medicare and Medicaid $1.1 trillion. In the wake of numerous failed clinical trials over the past decade, several large pharmaceutical companies have shuttered their AD research programs, creating a sense of hopelessness. (Kenneth Kosik and Andrew Lo, 5/22)

The Californian:
In Monterey County And California, Worker Safetypriority
In recent weeks the Californian has published a couple of opinion pieces regarding pesticide use and application that assert a lack of pesticide literacy in the fields. We appreciate the opportunity to correct this misperception and detail what is done locally in our fields to educate and protect workers and assure their safety. (Abby Taylor-Silva and Norm Groot, 5/24)

Sacramento Bee:
The Hidden Health Crisis Of Toxic Stress
There’s a health crisis lurking in nearly every home. Medical science calls it toxic stress, which can start in childhood and continue over our entire lives. The premise is very simple: When children and teens experience trauma such as physical and emotional abuse or neglect, or parents with addiction or serious mental health issues, the biological effects of that stress can actually harm their growing bodies and brains. These physiological changes can put children at much greater risk for diseases such as asthma and for learning difficulties. In adulthood, they can lead to obesity, heart disease, cancer and stroke. (Chris Padula, 5/24)

This is part of the California Healthline Daily Edition, a summary of health policy coverage from major news organizations. Sign up for an email subscription.